2009 Schedule C Reporting - Make Sure You're Ready!

Most employee benefit plan sponsors and practitioners have become familiar with the basics of the new, mandatory electronic filing system for the Form 5500, and many have also heard about the significant changes to Schedule C reporting. Unfortunately, at this point very few really understand the types of plan expenses, how service providers today are compensated and how all this information will actually look when presented on the 2009 Schedule C. The consequences of that could be dire, since failure to file a complete Form 5500 — including any necessary schedules — could result in penalties of up to $1,100 per day!

This interactive audio conference will delve into the details that you need to know now, so you can begin preparing for the expansive new reporting requirements. Be sure to join us as we explore several case studies, shedding light on common fee arrangements and demystifying the often misunderstood 2009 Schedule C.

• Learn about the types of compensation arrangements for plan service providers, including common revenue-sharing arrangements
• Discover the questions you should be asking your service providers now to ensure that you can fully comply with Schedule C reporting rules
• Find out what types of compensation disclosures you may be seeing from service providers in the coming months
• Get practical help completing the 2009 Schedule C, through in-depth examination of common scenarios

• Anyone who prepares or works with Form 5500, including:
  • Retirement plan administrators/recordkeepers, actuaries and other TPAs
  • Employee benefit plan auditors
  • CPAs who work with and advise their clients on benefit plan filings
  • HR personnel who work with benefit plan filings
  • Employee benefits professionals/consultants
  • Employee benefits tax specialists

Erik Pienkos is a senior manager in the Chicago office of Grant Thornton LLP’s Compensation and Benefits Consulting practice.In this function, Erik heads up the firm’s employee benefits compliance practice for the Midwest region, and provides technical support concerning qualified plan matters to clients and other firm professionals throughout the U.S.  For nearly 15 years, Erik has worked with hundreds of clients to design effective benefit plans and to ensure that the plans, once implemented, remain in compliance with all applicable legal requirements.  He has extensive experience dealing with reporting and disclosure issues related to benefit plans, and works closely with the firm’s Employee Benefit Plan Audit practice to identify and correct plan operational defects.

Erik is a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), the International Foundation for Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society. He is a licensed public accountant in Illinois, and Chairman of the Illinois CPA Society’s Tax/ERISA Special Interest Group and Employee Benefits Conferences, and has received professional designations from both ASPPA and IFEBP. Mr. Pienkos has extensive experience speaking and presenting on Form 5500 issues.